International Consultant to provide expertise to support the Action Plan and dialogue with parties to conflict for Six Months

looking for consultant to provide technical and policy guidance support in the area of Children and Armed Conflict, specifically on Action Plans with parties to conflict and the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, at national and field offices, in particular in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Assignment

 To provide technical and policy guidance support in the area of Children and Armed Conflict, specifically on Action Plans with parties to conflict and the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, at national and field offices, in particular in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile. This consultancy position will be working very closely with Government counter parts and the parties listed in the Secretary-General’s report on Children and Armed Conflict to support the Action Plan or the commitments made by the parties.

Assignment Tasks

• The consultant will specifically support in the implementation of the Action Plan with the Government and parallel processes through implementation plans with other parties to conflict to end recruitment and use of children ( detailed output of the task and responsibilities are included in Annex I):

 * Support the Government and parties to conflict through trainings, capacity building, and technical assistance to develop necessary policy and procedures to end grave violations against children and to support the Action Plan processes and implementation.

• Support the work of the Government-UN Technical Committee on the Action Plan and the focal points of other parties to conflict and participate in monitoring and verification missions related to Action Plan processes.
• Support the planning design and separation of children from armed forces and groups, and the handling of children therein, especially children released through the Action Plan processes.
• Provide technical expertise in the development of protection policies and procedures that will be required for the implementation of the Action Plan processes such as a complaint mechanism, screening protocol etc., as relevant and necessary.
• Provide analysis of challenges and opportunities related to violations against children and the implementation of the Action Plan processes and provide recommendations to UNICEF Sudan child protection as well as Headquarters and Regional Office.

• Develop strategies and activities to keep the diplomatic community engaged on progress and challenges through the Group of Friends of CAAC.

  Strengthen monitoring and reporting mechanisms of child rights violations and response, especially those perpetrated by parties to conflict.
• Review the information related to Security Council reporting and ensure accuracy of the collected information to prepare reporting and updates for senior management, including quarterly bulletins and monthly reports, the Co-Chairs of the CTFMR, and the UN Security Council, in particular contributions to the Global Horizontal Note and the UN Secretary-General’s global and country-specific reports on CAAC.
• Develop strategy and tools to help strengthen child protection networks for gathering and verifying information, protection capacity of governmental social protection institutions and humanitarian organizations, and referral pathways for victims to receive services.

• Provide analysis of child protection concerns in emergency and suggest strategies to address children concerns in timely manner to address violations against children.

• Support the work with UNAMID, relevant UN agencies, funds and programmes, and national partners with a view to strengthening child protection capacities. Participate in other appropriate humanitarian coordination fora to raise CPiE issues in other protection or non-protection coordination mechanisms.
• Support the work of the section as requested by the CPiE Specialist, especially related to Child Protection in Emergency.

Expected Deliverables

 1          Support the Government and parties to conflict through trainings, capacity building, and technical assistance to develop necessary policy and procedures to end grave violations against children and to support the Action Plan processes and implementation.      At least six trainings and capacity building activities undertaken. Two policy and procedure related to ending grave violations developed. 

July, 2017(Continue to provide support as required during the consultancy period to achieve this deliverable.)

2          Engage with the Government-UN Technical Committee on the Action Plan and the focal points of other parties to conflict and participate in monitoring and verification missions related to Action Plan processes.        

All actions from the technical committee meetings supported and followed. Participated in at least four verification mission.            

August, 2017 (provide support every month on this deliverable.)

3          Support separation of children from armed forces and groups, and the handling of children therein, especially children released through the Action Plan processes.

Regular follow-up and update of released children produced and shared. Plan for release and reintegration in place. 

August, 2017

4         Support development of protection policies and procedures that will be required for the implementation of the Action Plan processes such as a complaint mechanism, screening protocol etc., as relevant and necessary for all parties to conflict.                                         

Complaint mechanism and screening protocol established.  September, 2017

5         Provide analysis of challenges and opportunities related to violations against children and the implementation of the Action Plan processes and provide recommendations to UNICEF Sudan child protection as well as Headquarters and Regional Office.                     

Monthly analysis of key challenges and opportunities produced and shared with the senior management for action.               

September, 2017

6          Keep the diplomatic community engaged on progress and challenges through the Group of Friends (GoF) of CAAC.  

Organize the meeting of GoF.   

September, 2017(Provide support every two month on this deliverable from the mentioned date.)

7          Ensure accuracy of the collected information and finalize reporting and updates for senior management, including quarterly bulletins and monthly reports, the Co-Chairs of the CTFMR, and the UN Security Council, in particular contributions to the Global Horizontal Note and the UN Secretary-General’s global and country-specific reports on CAAC.   

Quarterly bulletins, monthly reports and GHN produced on time for finalization by CPiE Specialist.

October, 2017(Continue to provide support as required during the consultancy period to achieve this deliverable.)

8          Help strengthen child protection networks for gathering and verifying information, protection capacity of governmental social protection institutions and humanitarian organizations, and referral pathways for victims to receive services.

At least four training and capacity building activities for child protection and other key actors undertaken. October, 2017

 9         Provide analysis of child protection concerns in emergency and suggest strategies to address children concerns in timely manner to address violations against children.                                 

Monthly update provided on integrating key CAAC concerns in the CPiE program.  November, 2017

10        Collaborate with UNAMID, relevant UN agencies, funds and programmes, and national partners with a view to strengthening child protection capacities. Participate in other appropriate humanitarian coordination fora and ensure CPiE issues are raised in other protection or non-protection coordination mechanisms.    

Four training and capacity building activities organized for the Task Force along with UNAMID. July, 2017 – December, 2017

(Provide support every month on this deliverable.)

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education

 An advanced degree in international relations, political science, human rights or a related subject. First degree could be considered with solid relevant work experience.

Years of relevant experience

 Minimum of five years of progressive responsibility working on issues related to human rights, International Humanitarian Law or child protection, including at least four years of working on children and armed conflict.

• Experience advocating for protection of children with Government and other key senior actors/officials. Experience of policy analysis related to children affected by armed conflict.
• Knowledge of the Security Council framework and tools on children and armed conflict or UN human rights-related monitoring and reporting.
•  Experience of working in conflict contexts is also an advantage. Experience of writing formal United Nations reports and preparing briefing notes, talking points and policy papers for senior Government and United Nations officials.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

 Excellent inter-personal, advocacy, negotiating, and communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports, conduct presentations, and articulate and defend recommendations. Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking. Experience and ability to organize and implement training sessions.

• Excellent writing skills for formal United Nations reports.
• Experience of working with Governmental and non-governmental bodies.

• Strong analytical, quantitative and qualitative research skills to analyse policy and form prevention and response strategies.

• Effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner by establishing priorities, planning, coordinating and working under pressure.

• Works effectively on multiple assignments simultaneously and adapts to difficult, complex, changing demands and circumstances. Adaptable and ready to travel with short notice.

• Ability to work in an international and multicultural team.
• Seeks and quickly absorbs new information and techniques.
• Good knowledge of computer management and applications.

Language skills required:  Fluent spoken and written English.

 Other skills and attributes required: Understanding of working of the Peace Keeping Mission. Experience of working on Security Council Mechanism on Children and Armed Conflict, added advantage.

  To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.